Refrigerator and home appliance

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator includes a compressor, a capacitor to store direct current (DC) power, an inverter to convert the DC power into alternating current (AC) power and to output the AC power for driving of the compressor, a defrosting heater to operate using the AC power from the inverter, a switching unit connected between the inverter and the defrosting heater to supply the AC power from the inverter to at least one of the defrosting heater or the compressor, and a compressor microcomputer to control the inverter. The refrigerator enables simplified driving of the defrosting heater using AC power output from the inverter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2014-0001442, filed on 6 Jan. 2014 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to refrigerators and home appliances and,more particularly, to refrigerators and home appliances which arecapable of driving a defrosting heater in a simplified manner usingalternating current (AC) power output from an inverter.

2. Background

Generally, refrigerators serve to keep food fresh for a long period oftime. Such a refrigerator is comprised of a freezing compartment inwhich food is kept at a freezing temperature or lower, a refrigeratingcompartment in which food is kept at a temperature above the freezingtemperature, and having a refrigeration cycle for cooling of thefreezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment. Operation of therefrigerator is controlled by a controller equipped in the refrigerator.

A kitchen space containing a refrigerator is not simply a space fordietary life, but is changed to a more important living space than everbefore for conversation between family members as well as dietary lifeand other purposes. Therefore, there is a need to enlarge a refrigeratorthat is a core component of the kitchen space and to achievequantitative and qualitative functional change for easy use by allfamily members.

SUMMARY

Therefore, one object is to provide a refrigerator and a home appliancewhich are capable of driving a defrosting heater in a simplified mannerusing alternating current (AC) power output from an inverter.

It is another object to provide a refrigerator and a home appliancewhich are capable of performing power consumption calculation in asimplified manner.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the aboveand other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a refrigeratorincluding a compressor, a capacitor to store direct current (DC) power,an inverter to convert the DC power into alternating current (AC) powerand to output the AC power for driving of the compressor, a defrostingheater to operate using the AC power from the inverter, a switching unitconnected between the inverter and the defrosting heater to supply theAC power from the inverter to at least one of the defrosting heater orthe compressor, and a compressor microcomputer to control the inverter.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a home appliance including a motor, a capacitor to store DCpower, an inverter to convert the DC power into AC power and to outputthe AC power for driving of the motor, a heater to operate using the ACpower from the inverter, a switching unit connected between the inverterand the heater to supply the AC power from the inverter to at least oneof the heater or the motor, and a motor microcomputer to control theinverter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages will be moreclearly understood from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an opened state of doors includedin the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an icemaker shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view schematically showing a configuration of therefrigerator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing internal components ofthe refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view showing an internal circuit of a refrigerator;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an internal circuit of the refrigerator shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing a compressor driver shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing one example of operation of acompressor and a defrosting heater;

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing one example of a compressormicrocomputer shown in FIG. 8;

FIGS. 11( a)-11(b) are views showing various examples of a homeappliance according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a block diagram schematically showing an internalconfiguration of the home appliance shown in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

With respect to constituent elements used in the following description,suffixes “module” and “unit” are given or mingled with each other onlyin consideration of ease in the preparation of the specification, and donot have or serve as different meanings. Accordingly, the suffixes“module” and “unit” may be mingled with each other. It should be notedthat “module” and “unit” may be hardware or a controller executing asequence of instructions stored in a memory, for instance.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator according to anembodiment of the present invention.

The refrigerator 1 includes a case 110, which has an inner space dividedinto a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment (not shownin FIG. 1), a freezing compartment door 120 to shield the freezingcompartment, and a refrigerating compartment door 140 to shield therefrigerating compartment, the case 110 and the doors 120 and 140defining an outer appearance of the refrigerator 1.

The freezing compartment door 120 and the refrigerating compartment door140 may be provided at front surfaces thereof with forwardly protrudingdoor handles 121 respectively to assist a user in easily pivoting thefreezing compartment door 120 and the refrigerating compartment door 140by gripping the door handles 121.

The refrigerating compartment door 140 may further be provided at afront surface thereof with a so-called home bar 180 that allows the userto conveniently retrieve stored items, such as beverages, withoutopening the refrigerating compartment door 140.

The freezing compartment door 120 may further be provided at a frontsurface thereof with a dispenser 160 that allows the user to easily andconveniently retrieve ice or drinking water without opening the freezingcompartment door 120. The freezing compartment door 120 may further beprovided with a control panel 210 at the upper side of the dispenser160. The control panel 210 serves to control driving operation of therefrigerator 1 and to display a screen showing a current operating stateof the refrigerator 1.

While the dispenser 160 is shown in FIG. 1 as being located at the frontsurface of the freezing compartment door 120, the present invention isnot limited thereto and the dispenser 160 may be located at the frontsurface of the refrigerating compartment door 140.

In addition, the freezing compartment 155 (see FIG. 2) may accommodate,in an upper region thereof, an icemaker 190 used to make ice using watersupplied thereto and cold air within the freezing compartment and an icebank 195 located under the icemaker 190 to receive ice released from theicemaker 190. In addition, although not shown in FIG. 2, an ice chutemay be used to guide the ice received in the ice bank 195 to fall intothe dispenser 160. The icemaker 190 will be described below in moredetail with reference to FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1, the control panel 210 may include an input unit 220having a plurality of buttons and a display 230 to display controlscreens, operating states, and the like.

The display 230 displays control screens, operating states, and otherinformation, such as an internal temperature of the refrigerator, etc.For example, the display 230 may display a service type of the dispenser160 (ice cubes, water, crushed ice), a set temperature of the freezingcompartment, and a set temperature of the refrigerating compartment.

The display 230 may be any one of liquid crystal display (LCD), lightemitting diode (LED), and organic light emitting diode (OLED) units andthe like. In one embodiment, the display 230 may be a touchscreen thatmay additionally perform a function of the input unit 220.

The input unit 220 may include a plurality of operation buttons. Forexample, the input unit 220 may include a dispenser setting button toset a service type of the dispenser (ice cubes, water, crushed ice), afreezing compartment temperature setting button to set a temperature ofthe freezing compartment, and a refrigerating compartment temperaturesetting button to set a temperature of the refrigerating compartment. Inone embodiment, the input unit 220 may be a touchscreen that mayadditionally perform a function of the display 230.

The refrigerator according to embodiments of the present invention isnot limited to a double door type shown in FIG. 1, and may be any one ofa one door type refrigerator, a sliding door type refrigerator, acurtain door type refrigerator and others. A refrigerator comprising anice bank 195 and an ice bank vibrator 175 to vibrate the ice bank 195placed in the freezing compartment according to one embodiment of thepresent invention will be described below.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an opened state of the doorsincluded in the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.

In explaining with reference to FIG. 2, a freezing compartment 155 isdefined inside the freezing compartment door 120 and a refrigeratingcompartment 157 is defined inside the refrigerating compartment door140.

Placed in an upper region of the freezing compartment 155 are theicemaker 190 that makes ice using water supplied thereto and cold airwithin the freezing compartment 155, the ice bank 195 that is locatedunder the icemaker 190 to receive ice released from the icemaker 190,the ice bank vibrator 175 that vibrates the ice bank 195, and thedispenser 160. In addition, although not shown in FIG. 2, an ice chutemay further be placed to guide the ice received in the ice bank 195 tofall into the dispenser 160.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the icemaker shown in FIG. 2.

In explaining with reference to FIG. 3, the icemaker 190 includes an icemaking tray 212 in which water for making ice is received and made intoa given shape of ice, a water feeder 213 to feed water into the icemaking tray 212, a slider 214 along which the made ice slides down tothe ice bank 190, and a heater (not shown) to separate the finished icefrom the ice making tray 212.

The ice making tray 212 may be fastened to the freezing compartment 155of the refrigerator via one or more fastening pieces 212 a.

In addition, the icemaker 190 further includes an ice making driver 216to operate an ejector 217. The ejector 217 is coupled to a motor (notshown) of the driver 216 via a shaft and serves to expel the ice, e.g.,ice cubes, completely made in the ice making tray 212 into the ice bank195.

The ice making tray 212 has an approximately semi-cylindrical shape andis provided at an inner surface thereof with divider protrusions 212 b.The divider protrusions 212 b are spaced apart from one another by aprescribed distance to separate and expel the ice cubes.

The ejector 217 includes a shaft 217 a extending across the center ofthe ice making tray 212, and a plurality of ejector pins 217 bprotruding from one side of the shaft 217 a of the ejector 217.

Here, the ejector pins 217 a are respectively located between therespective neighboring divider protrusions 212 b of the ice making tray212.

The ejector pins 217 a serve to expel the made ice into the ice bank195. For example, the ice cubes moved by the ejector pins 217 a arereleased onto the slider 214 and then fall into the ice bank 195 bysliding on the slider 214.

Although not shown in FIG. 3, the heater is attached to a lower surfaceof the ice making tray 212 and serves to increase a temperature of theice making tray 212 when it is necessary to melt ice adhered to theinner surface of the ice making tray 212 for separation of the ice fromthe ice making tray 212. The separated ice is discharged into the icebank 195 by the ejector 217.

The icemaker 190 may further include a light transmitter 233 and a lightreceiver 234, which serve to sense whether or not the ice bank 195located under the ice making tray 212 is full of ice (hereinafterreferred to as “ice full sensing”). In one embodiment, “ice fullsensing” is performed before separation of the ice from the ice makingtray 212.

The light transmitter 233 and the light receiver 234 may be arranged ata lower end of the icemaker 190 and transmit or receive light to or fromthe ice bank 195 using infrared sensors, light emitting diodes (LEDs) orthe like.

For example, in the case of an infrared sensor type, the infraredtransmitter 233 and the infrared receiver 234 are respectively locatedat a lower end of the icemaker 190. The infrared receiver 234 willreceive a high level signal when the ice bank 195 is not full of ice,and receive a low level signal when the ice bank 195 is full of ice.Thereby, a main microcomputer 310 (see FIG. 5) judges whether or not theice bank 195 is full of ice. Here, one or more infrared receivers 234may be used, and FIG. 3 shows two infrared receivers 234.

The light transmitter 233 and the light receiver 234 may be embedded ina lower case 219 of the icemaker 190 for protection of elements againstmoisture, frost, etc., due to ice.

The signal, received by the light receiver 234, is inputted to the mainmicrocomputer 310. Upon ice full sensing, the main microcomputer 310controls operation of the ice making driver 216 such that ice is nolonger expelled into the ice bank 195.

The ice bank vibrator 175 to vibrate the ice bank 195 may be located atthe underside of the ice bank 195. While the ice bank vibrator 175 isshown in FIG. 3 as being located at the underside of the ice bank 195,the present invention is not limited thereto, and the ice bank vibrator175 may be located at any position adjacent to the ice bank 195, such asa position at a side surface of the ice bank 195, so long as the icebank vibrator 175 can vibrate the ice bank 195.

FIG. 4 is a view schematically showing a configuration of therefrigerator shown in FIG. 1.

In explaining with reference to FIG. 4, the refrigerator 1 may include acompressor 112, a condenser 116 to condense refrigerant compressed inthe compressor 112, a freezing compartment evaporator 122 placed in thefreezing compartment (not shown) to evaporate the condensed refrigerantdirected from the condenser 116, and a freezing compartment expansionvalve 132 to expand the refrigerant to be directed to the freezingcompartment evaporator 122.

While FIG. 4 shows use of a single evaporator by way of example,evaporators may be respectively placed in the freezing compartment andthe refrigerating compartment.

That is, the refrigerator 1 may further include a refrigeratingcompartment evaporator (not shown) placed in the refrigeratingcompartment (not shown), a 3-way valve (not shown) to direct thecondensed refrigerant from the condenser 116 to the refrigeratingcompartment evaporator (not shown) or the freezing compartmentevaporator 122, and a refrigerating compartment expansion valve (notshown) to expand the refrigerant to be directed to the refrigeratingcompartment evaporator (not shown).

In addition, the refrigerator 1 may further include a gas-liquidseparator (not shown) in which the refrigerant having passed through thefreezing compartment evaporator 122 is divided into liquid and gas.

The refrigerator 1 may further include a refrigerating compartment fan(not shown) and a freezing compartment fan 144, which suction cold airhaving passed through the freezing compartment evaporator 122 and blowthe cold air to the refrigerating compartment (not shown) and thefreezing compartment (not shown) respectively.

The refrigerator 1 may further include a compressor driver 113 to drivethe compressor 112, a refrigerating compartment fan driver (not shown)to drive the refrigerating compartment fan (not shown), and a freezingcompartment fan driver 145 to drive the freezing compartment fan 144.

Meanwhile, in the case in which the common evaporator 122 is used in thefreezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment as shown in FIG.4, a damper (not shown) may be installed between the freezingcompartment and the refrigerating compartment, and a fan (not shown) mayforcibly blow cold air generated by the single evaporator to thefreezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing internal components ofthe refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.

In explaining with reference to FIG. 5, the refrigerator may include thecompressor 112, a machine room fan 115, the freezing compartment fan144, the main microcomputer 310, a heater 330, the icemaker 190, the icebank 195, a temperature sensor unit 320, and a memory 240. In addition,the refrigerator may further include the compressor driver 113, amachine room fan driver 117, the freezing compartment fan driver 145, aheater driver 332, the ice making driver 216, the ice bank vibrator 175,the display 230, and the input unit 220.

The input unit 220 includes a plurality of operation buttons andtransmits a signal related to an input freezing compartment settemperature or an input refrigerating compartment set temperature to themain microcomputer 310.

The display 230 may display an operating state of the refrigerator. Inparticular, in relation to an embodiment of the present invention, thedisplay 230 may display final power consumption information, oraccumulated power consumption information based on the final powerconsumption. The display 230 is operable under control of the mainmicrocomputer 310.

The memory 240 may store data required to operate the refrigerator. Inparticular, in relation to an embodiment of the present invention, asexemplarily shown in FIG. 5, the memory 240 may store power consumptioninformation regarding each of a plurality of power consuming units. Inaddition, the memory 240 may output corresponding power consumptioninformation to the main microcomputer 310 according to whether therespective power consuming units included in the refrigerator areoperated or not.

In addition, the memory 240 may store information regarding distributionof elements of a plurality of power consuming units.

The temperature sensor unit 320 senses an internal temperature of therefrigerator and transmits a signal related to the sensed temperature tothe main microcomputer 310. Here, the temperature sensor unit 320 mayinclude sensors to sense a refrigerating compartment temperature and afreezing compartment temperature respectively. In addition, thetemperature sensor unit 320 may sense a temperature of each chamberwithin the refrigerating compartment or a temperature of each chamberwithin the freezing compartment.

The main microcomputer 310 may control the compressor driver 113 and thefan driver 117 or 145 as exemplarily shown in FIG. 5 to controlturn-on/turn-off of the compressor 112 and the fan 115 or 144, therebyfinally controlling the compressor 112 and the fan 115 or 144. Here, thefan driver may be the machine room fan driver 117 or the freezingcompartment fan driver 145.

For example, the main microcomputer 310 may output a speed commandsignal corresponding to the compressor driver 113 or the fan driver 117or 145.

The compressor driver 113 and the freezing compartment fan driver 145 asdescribed above respectively include a compressor motor (not shown) anda freezing compartment fan motor (not shown), and these motors (notshown) may be operated respectively at target rotation speeds undercontrol of the main microcomputer 310.

The machine room fan driver 117 may include a machine room fan motor(not shown), and the machine room fan motor (not shown) may be operatedat a target rotation speed under control of the main microcomputer 310.

In the case in which the aforementioned motors are three phase motors,the motors may be controlled by switching operation in an inverter (notshown), or may be controlled to a constant speed using alternatingcurrent (AC) power. Here, the respective motors (not shown) may be anyone of an induction motor, a blushless direct current (BLDC) motor, asynchronous reluctance (synRM) motor, and the like.

Meanwhile, the main microcomputer 310, as described above, may controlgeneral operations of the refrigerator 1, in addition to controllingoperations of the compressor 112 and the fan 115 or 144.

For example, the main microcomputer 310 may control operation of the icebank vibrator 175. In particular, upon ice full sensing, the mainmicrocomputer 310 may control discharge of ice from the icemaker 190 tothe ice bank 195 and also control vibration of the ice bank 195 duringthe discharge of ice or within a prescribed time after the discharge ofice using the ice vibrator 175. Vibration of the ice bank 195 during thedischarge of ice may ensure even distribution of ice within the ice bank195 without clustering of ice.

In addition, to prevent clustering of ice when the ice is kept in theice bank 195 for a long time, the main microcomputer 310 may causevibration of the ice bank 195 repeatedly at a prescribed time interval.

In addition, when the dispenser 160 is operated by user operation, themain microcomputer 310 may control discharge of ice from the ice bank195 to the dispenser 160, and also control vibration of the ice bank 195during the discharge of ice or immediately before the discharge of ice.More specifically, the main microcomputer 310 may control the ice bankvibrator 175 to vibrate the ice bank 195. In this way, it is possible toprevent clustering of ice to be discharged to the user via the dispenser160.

The main microcomputer 310 may control operation of the heater (notshown) included in the icemaker 190 for separation of ice from the icemaking tray 212.

Then, after the heater (not shown) is turned on, the main microcomputer310 may control operation of the ejector 217 included in the icemaker190 by controlling the ice making driver 216. This serves to controloperation to smoothly discharge ice from the icemaker 190 into the icebank 195.

Meanwhile, upon judgment that the ice bank 195 is full of ice, the mainmicrocomputer 310 may control the heater (not shown) to be turned off.In addition, the main microcomputer 310 may control the ejector 217included in the icemaker 190 to stop operation.

In addition, as described above, the main microcomputer 310 may controlgeneral operations of a refrigerant cycle to match a set temperaturefrom the input unit 220. For example, the main microcomputer 310 mayfurther control the 3-way valve (not shown), the refrigeratingcompartment expansion valve (not shown) and the freezing compartmentexpansion valve 132, in addition to controlling the compressor driver113, the refrigerating compartment fan driver (not shown) and thefreezing compartment fan driver 145. Then, the main microcomputer 310may control operation of the condenser 116. In addition, the mainmicrocomputer 310 may control operation of the display 230.

The heater 330 may be a freezing compartment defrosting heater. Thefreezing compartment defrosting heater 330 may be operated to removefrost from the freezing compartment evaporator 122. To this end, theheater driver 332 may control operation of the heater 330. Meanwhile,the main microcomputer 310 may control the heater driver 332.

FIG. 6 is a view showing an internal circuit of a refrigerator.

The circuit 600 may include a rectifier 411, a capacitor C, a voltagedropper 610, a fan 620, a DC heater 625, the main microcomputer 310, arelay 608, a heater 605, an inverter 420, and a compressor microcomputer430. In addition, the circuit 600 may further include an input currentdetector (not shown) to detect input current is input from a commercialAC power source 405, a DC terminal voltage detector (not shown) todetect voltage at each of two capacitor terminals, an output currentdetector (not shown) to detect inverter output current, and an outputvoltage detector (not shown) to detect inverter output voltage.

In the above-described circuit 600 of FIG. 6, to calculate refrigeratorpower consumption, compressor power consumption is first calculatedusing at least one of input current, DC terminal voltage, and outputcurrent detected in the compressor 112. Then, refrigerator powerconsumption may be calculated in consideration of the compressor powerconsumption.

The relay 608 is located between the commercial AC power source 405 andthe rectifier 411 to drive the AC heater 605 equipped in therefrigerator 1. The AC heater 605 may be operated via turn-on operationof the relay 608.

When the refrigerator power consumption is calculated in theabove-described manner, however, power consumption related to the heater605 located upstream of the compressor 112 is not considered. Inparticular, in the case in which the heater 605 is a defrosting heaterto remove frost attached to the freezing compartment evaporator 124, theabove-described calculation manner causes a considerable calculationerror of refrigerator power consumption. This is because mostrefrigerator power consumption is caused by the defrosting heater andthe compressor.

In an embodiment of the present invention, there is devised a method ofaccurately calculating refrigerator power consumption using detectorsincluded in a compressor driver (e.g., the input current detector, theDC terminal voltage detector, the output current detector, the outputvoltage detector, etc.) without an additional device. This will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 7 as well as the followingdrawings.

FIG. 7 is a view showing an internal circuit of the refrigerator shownin FIG. 1.

First, referring to FIG. 7, the circuit 700 of FIG. 7 may include atleast one circuit board installed in the refrigerator.

Specifically, the circuit 700 may include the rectifier 411, thecapacitor C, the voltage dropper 610, the fan 620, the DC heater 625,the main microcomputer 310, a switching unit 710, the defrosting heater605, the inverter 420, and the compressor microcomputer 430.

When compared with FIG. 6, the relay 608 is substituted with theswitching unit 710, and the switching unit 710 and the defrosting heater605 are located between the inverter 420 and the compressor 112 ratherthan being located near the input AC power source 405.

The rectifier 411 rectifies AC power from the commercial AC power source405 and outputs the rectified power. While FIG. 7 shows the rectifier411 as having bridge diodes, various alterations are possible.

The rectifier 411 may be one example of a converter 410 of FIG. 8because the rectifier 411 converts AC power into DC power.

Next, the capacitor C may be located at an output terminal of therectifier 411 to store or smooth the rectified power. In this case, twoterminals of the capacitor C may be named DC terminals. Thus, thecapacitor C may be referred to as a DC terminal capacitor.

Voltage at the two terminals of the DC terminal capacitor C, i.e., DCterminal voltage Vdc may be used to operate the main microcomputer 310or to operate the compressor 112. FIG. 7 shows that the DC terminalvoltage Vdc is used to operate both the main microcomputer 310 and thecompressor 112.

The DC terminal voltage Vdc may be within a range of 200V to 300V andvoltage drop is required to drive the main microcomputer 310 that isoperated by scores of voltage.

The voltage dropper 610 may convert the input DC power to generate powerfor operation of respective units included in the circuit 700. Here, theoperation power may be DC power. To this end, the voltage dropper 610may include a switched mode power supply (SMPS) having switchingelements.

The DC power dropped to approximately 15V may be inputted to the fan620, the DC heater 625 and the main microcomputer 310. Then, the fan620, the DC heater 625 and the main microcomputer 310 may be operatedbased on the dropped DC power.

The inverter 420 may drive the compressor 112. In particular, theinverter 420 may drive a compressor motor (see 235 of FIG. 8) includedin the compressor 112.

To this end, the inverter 420 may include a plurality of inverterswitching elements. The inverter 420 may convert the DC terminal voltageinto three phase AC voltage having a prescribed frequency as theswitching elements are turned on or off, thereby outputting the ACvoltage to the compressor motor (see 235 of FIG. 8).

The defrosting heater 605 is an AC heater that may be operated using ACpower from the inverter 420.

The switching unit 710 may be connected between the inverter 420 and thedefrosting heater 605 and supply AC power from the inverter 420 to atleast one of the defrosting heater 605 or the compressor 112.

The compressor microcomputer 430 may output a switching control signalSic for driving of the compressor 112 to the inverter 420.

In addition, the compressor microcomputer 430 may control operation ofthe switching unit 710 by outputting a switching control signal Ssc tothe switching unit 710. In particular, the compressor microcomputer 430may perform control to cause an operation duration of the defrostingheater 605 and an operation duration of the compressor 112 to be spacedapart from each other.

Meanwhile, the compressor microcomputer 430 may calculate powerconsumption of the entire refrigerator 1 based on at least one of inputcurrent is detected by an input current detector (see A of FIG. 8), DCterminal voltage Vdc detected by a DC terminal voltage detector (see Bof FIG. 8), output current (see io of FIG. 8) detected by an outputcurrent detector (see E of FIG. 8), and output voltage (see vo of FIG.8) detected by an output voltage detector (see F of FIG. 8).

As the circuit is configured in such a manner that the defrosting heater605 and the compressor 112, which are the maximum power consuming unitsof the refrigerator, are located downstream of the switching unit 710,refrigerator power consumption may be calculated based on current,voltage and the like acquired by the respective detectors included inthe compressor driver 113. In this way, simplified and accuratecalculation of the refrigerator power consumption may be accomplished.

The refrigerator power consumption Scd+Shd, calculated by the compressormicrocomputer 430, may be transmitted to the main microcomputer 310. Themain microcomputer 310 may control the display 230 to display thereceived refrigerator power consumption.

In FIG. 7, Scd may denote compressor power consumption for a compressoroperation duration, and Shd may denote defrosting heater powerconsumption for a defrosting heater operation duration. The outputrefrigerator power consumption may be represented by Scd+Shd uponsimultaneous operation of the defrosting heater and the compressor,whereas the output refrigerator power consumption may be represented byScd or Shd upon separate operation of the defrosting heater and thecompressor.

The power consumption calculation by the compressor microcomputer 430will be described below with reference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing a compressor driver shown in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIG. 8, the compressor driver 113 according to anembodiment of the present invention may include the converter 410, theinverter 420, the compressor microcomputer 430, the DC terminal voltagedetector B, the smoothing capacitor C, the output current detector E andthe output voltage detector F.

The converter 410 converts AC power from the commercial AC power source405 into DC power and outputs the DC power. While FIG. 8 shows thecommercial AC power source 405 as a single phase AC power source, thecommercial AC power source 405 may be a three phase AC power source. Aninner structure of the converter 410 is variable according to the kindof the commercial AC power source 405.

Meanwhile, the converter 410 may include diodes and the like withoutswitching elements, and perform rectification operation without separateswitching operation.

For example, the converter 410 may include four bridge diodes when asingle phase AC power source is used, and may include six bridge diodeswhen a three phase AC power source is used.

Alternatively, the converter 410 may be a half bridge type converterincluding a combination of two switching elements and four diodes. Inparticular, when a three phase AC power source is used, the converter410 may include six switching elements and six diodes.

In the case of including switching elements, the converter 410 mayperform voltage boosting, power factor improvement, and DC powerconversion via switching operation of the corresponding switchingelements.

The capacitor C serves to smooth and store input power. The capacitor Cof FIG. 8 may be identical to the capacitor C of FIG. 7.

The DC terminal voltage detector B may detect DC terminal voltage Vdc attwo terminals of the smoothing capacitor C. To this end, the DC terminalvoltage detector B may include a resistor, an amplifier and the like.The detected DC terminal voltage Vdc may be a discrete pulse signalinputted to the compressor microcomputer 430.

The inverter 420 may include a plurality of inverter switching elements,and convert DC power Vdc, smoothed as the switching elements are turnedon or off, into three phase AC power va, vb and vc having a prescribedfrequency and output the same to a three phase synchronous motor 235.

The inverter 420 includes upper arm switching elements Sa, Sb and Sc andlower arm switching elements S′a, S′b and S′c, which are respectivelyconnected to each other in series. As such, a total of three pairs ofupper arm and lower arm switching elements Sa &S′a, Sb&S′b and Sc& S′care acquired. Anti-parallel diodes are connected to the respectiveswitching elements Sa, S′a, Sb, S′b, Sc and S′c.

The switching elements included in the inverter 420 are turned on or offbased on the inverter switching control signal Sic from the compressormicrocomputer 430. Thereby, the inverter 420 outputs three phase ACpower having a prescribed frequency to the three phase synchronous motor235.

The compressor microcomputer 430 may control switching operation of theinverter 420. To this end, the compressor microcomputer 430 may receiveoutput current io detected by the output current detector E.

The compressor microcomputer 430 outputs the inverter switching controlsignal Sic to the inverter 420, in order to control switching operationof the inverter 420. The inverter switching control signal Sic is apulse width modulation (PWM) type switching control signal and isgenerated and outputted based on the output current io detected by theoutput current detector E. A detailed operation related to the output ofthe inverter switching control signal Sic by the compressormicrocomputer 430 will be described below with reference to FIG. 10.

The output current detector E detects the output current io flowingbetween the inverter 420 and the three phase motor 235. That is, theoutput current detector E detects current flowing to the motor 235. Theoutput current detector E may detect all of three phase current ia, iband ic, or may detect two phase output current using three phasebalance.

The output current detector E may be located between the inverter 420and the switching unit 710, and may use a current transformer (CT), ashunt resistor, or the like for current detection.

In the case of using a shunt resistor, three shunt resistors may belocated between the inverter 420 and the switching unit 710, or may berespectively connected at one end thereof to the three lower armswitching elements S′a, S′b and S′c of the inverter 420. Alternatively,two shunt resistors may be used based on three phase balance.Alternatively, a single shunt resistor may be located between theabove-described capacitor C and the inverter 420.

The detected output current io may be a discrete pulse signal applied tothe compressor microcomputer 430. The inverter switching control signalSic is generated based on the detected output current io. The followingdescription is under the assumption that the detected output current iois three phase output current ia, ib and ic.

The output voltage detector F is located between the inverter 420 andthe switching unit 710 and serves to detect phase voltage, i.e. outputvoltage vo directed from the inverter 420 to the three phase motor 235.To this end, the DC terminal voltage detector B may include a resistor,an amplifier or the like. The detected output voltage vo may be adiscrete pulse signal inputted to the compressor microcomputer 430.

The compressor motor 235 may be a three phase motor. The compressormotor 235 includes a stator and a rotator, and the rotator is rotated asAC power of each phase having a prescribed frequency is applied to acoil of the stator of each phase.

Examples of the motor 235 may include a surface mounted permanent magnetsynchronous motor (SMPMSM), an interior permanent magnet synchronousmotor (IPMSM), and a synchronous reluctance motor (SynRM). Among thesemotors, the SMPMSM and the IPMSM are characterized by presence of apermanent magnet, and the SynRM is characterized by absence of apermanent magnet.

Meanwhile, the compressor microcomputer 430 may perform calculation ofrefrigerator power consumption.

In one example, the compressor microcomputer 430 may calculaterefrigerator power consumption based on the output current io detectedby the output current detector E that is located between the inverter420 and the switching unit 710. As described above with reference toFIG. 7, due to the fact that the defrosting heater 605 and thecompressor 112 are located downstream of the switching unit 710,calculation of refrigerator power consumption including defrostingheater power consumption and compressor power consumption may beperformed based on the output current io detected by the output currentdetector E.

While the power consumption calculation requires voltage as well ascurrent, estimation of output voltage based on the detected outputcurrent io is possible and, thus, power consumption may be calculatedusing the estimated voltage.

In another example, the compressor microcomputer 430 may calculaterefrigerator power consumption based on the output current io detectedby the output current detector E and the output voltage vo detected bythe output voltage detector F, both the output current detector E andthe output voltage detector F being located between the inverter 420 andthe switching unit 710. As described above with reference to FIG. 7, dueto the fact that the defrosting heater 605 and the compressor 112 arelocated downstream of the switching unit 710, refrigerator powerconsumption including defrosting heater power consumption and compressorpower consumption may be calculated in a simplified manner based on theoutput current io detected by the output current detector E and theoutput voltage vo detected by the output voltage detector F.

In a further example, the compressor microcomputer 430 may calculaterefrigerator power consumption based on the input current is detected bythe input current detector A and the DC terminal voltage Vdc detected bythe DC terminal voltage detector B.

This power consumption calculation may be performed based on thefollowing Equation 1.

P=V _(dc) XI _(SRMS) Xpf  Equation 1

Here, P is refrigerator power consumption, Vdc is detected DC terminalvoltage, I_(SRMS) is a virtual value of input current, and pf is a powerfactor.

In this case, the power factor may vary according to whether thecompressor 112 is operated or not and whether the AC heater 605 fordefrosting operation is operated or not.

For example, pf may be set to pf1 when the compressor 112 is operated tosupply cold air into a freezing compartment, and may be set to pf2 whenthe compressor 112 is operated to supply cold air into a refrigeratingcompartment. Pf may be set to pf3 when the AC heater 605 for defrostingoperation is operated without operation of the compressor 112.

In this case, a relational expression of pf1<pf2<pf3 may be established.That is, pf3 with regard to operation of the AC heater 605 fordefrosting operation may have the greatest value.

These power factor values may be stored in a table, and the resultingpower factor table may be stored in the memory 240 of the refrigerator,or may be stored in the compressor microcomputer 430.

Then, the compressor microcomputer 430 may transmit the refrigeratorpower consumption calculated in the various manners to the mainmicrocomputer 310 as described above.

Next, the main microcomputer 310 may output the power consumption,calculated by the compressor microcomputer 430, as final powerconsumption. As such, the display 230 may display the final powerconsumption.

In this case, the display 230 may display refrigerator power consumptionfor a first period (e.g., one day), or may display refrigerator powerconsumption for a second period (e.g., one month).

Alternatively, the display 230 may display whether refrigerator powerconsumption increases or decreases via comparison of power consumptionfor different periods. Alternatively, the display 230 may displaywhether power consumption costs with respect to refrigerator powerconsumption increases or decreases.

In addition, the display 230 may display information regardingrefrigerator power consumption at a given cycle, or may displayinformation regarding refrigerator power consumption for a given time(e.g., 15 minutes). This assists the user in intuitively recognizingrefrigerator power consumption.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing one example of operation of thecompressor and the defrosting heater.

Referring to FIG. 9, a first duration T1 may be a duration for which thecompressor 112 is operated, a second duration T2 may be a duration forwhich the defrosting heater 605 is operated, and a third duration T3 maybe a duration for which the compressor 112 is operated. For thisoperation, the switching unit 710 may supply AC power output from theinverter 420 to the compressor 112 for the first duration T1 and for thethird duration T3, and to the defrosting heater 605 for the secondduration T2.

While FIG. 9 shows that the operation duration of the defrosting heater605 is spaced apart from the operation duration of the compressor 112,alternatively, these operation durations may partially overlap eachother.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing one example of the compressormicrocomputer shown in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 10, the compressor microcomputer 430 may include anaxis conversion unit 510, a speed calculator 520, a current commandgenerator 530, a voltage command generator 540, an axis conversion unit550, and a switching control signal output unit 560.

The axis conversion unit 510 receives three phase output current ia, iband is detected by the output current detector E and transforms the sameinto two phase current iα and iβ of a stationary coordinate system.

The axis conversion unit 510 may also perform transformation from thetwo phase current iα and iβ of the stationary coordinate system into twophase current id and iq of a rotational coordinate system.

The speed calculator 520 may output a position {circumflex over (θ)}_(r)and a speed {circumflex over (ω)}_(r), which are calculated based on thetwo phase current iα and iβ of the stationary coordinate systemaxis-transformed by the axis conversion unit 510.

The current command generator 530 generates current command i*_(q) basedon the calculated speed {circumflex over (ω)}_(r) and a speed command{circumflex over (ω)}*_(r). For example, the current command generator530 may perform PI control in a PI controller 535 based on a differencebetween the calculated speed {circumflex over (ω)}_(r) and the speedcommand {circumflex over (ω)}*_(r), and generate the current commandi*_(q). While the drawing shows a q-axis current command i*_(q) as acurrent command, alternatively, a d-axis current command i*_(d) may beconcurrently generated. The d-axis current command i*_(d) may be set tozero.

The current command generator 530 may further include a limiter (notshown) to limit a level of the current command i*_(q) so as to preventthe current command i*_(q) from deviating from an allowable range.

Subsequently, the voltage command generator 540 generates d-axis andq-axis voltage commands v*_(d) and v*_(q) based on the d-axis and q-axiscurrent id and iq of the two phase rotational coordinate systemaxis-transformed by the axis conversion unit and the current commandsi*_(d) and i*_(q) from the current command generator 530. For example,the voltage command generator 540 may perform PI control in a PIcontroller 544 based on a difference between the q-axis current i_(q)and the q-axis current command i*_(q), and generate the q-axis voltagecommand v*_(q). In addition, the voltage command generator 540 mayperform PI control in a PI controller 548 based on a difference betweenthe d-axis current i_(d) and the d-axis current command i*_(d), andgenerate the d-axis voltage command v*_(d). The voltage commandgenerator 540 may further include a limiter (not shown) to limit a levelof the d-axis and q-axis voltage commands v*_(d) and v*_(q) so as toprevent the voltage commands v_(d) and v*_(q) from deviating from anallowable range.

The generated d-axis and q-axis voltage commands v*_(d) and v*_(q) areinputted to the axis conversion unit 550.

The axis conversion unit 550 performs axis transformation upon receivingthe calculated position {circumflex over (θ)}_(r) from the speedcalculator 520 and the d-axis and q-axis voltage commands v*_(d) andv*_(q).

First, the axis conversion unit 550 performs transformation from a twophase rotational coordinate system into a two phase stationarycoordinate system. In this case, the position {circumflex over (θ)}_(r)calculated by the speed calculator 520 may be used.

Then, the axis conversion unit 550 performs transformation from the twophase stationary coordinate system into a three phase stationarycoordinate system. Through this transformation, the axis conversion unit550 outputs three phase output voltage commands v*_(a), v*_(b) andv*_(c).

The switching control signal output unit 560 generates and outputs aninverter switching control signal Sic based on pulse width modulationusing the three phase output voltage commands v*_(a), v*_(b) and v*_(c).

The output inverter switching control signal Sic may be converted into agate drive signal by a gate driver (not shown) and input to a gate ofeach switching element included in the inverter 420. In this way,switching operation of the respective switching elements Sa, S′a, Sb,S′b, Sc and S′c included in the inverter 420 occurs.

FIGS. 11( a)-11(b) are views showing various examples of a homeappliance according to another embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 12 is a block diagram schematically showing an internalconfiguration of the home appliance shown in FIGS. 11( a)-11(b).

The home appliance according to the embodiment of the present inventionmay include a motor microcomputer that calculates power consumption ofthe home appliance based on, e.g., current or voltage detected by adetector included in a motor driver.

The home appliance may include a washing machine 200 b of FIG. 11( a) oran air conditioner 200 c of FIG. 11( b), in addition to the refrigerator1 of FIG. 1.

The home appliance 200 of FIG. 12 may include an input unit 221 for userinput, a display 231 to display an operating state and the like of thehome appliance, a driver 223 to drive the home appliance 200, a memory241 to store product information, operation information and the like ofthe home appliance 200, and a main microcomputer 211 to control generaloperations of the home appliance 200.

In one example, when the home appliance is the washing machine 200 b,the driver 223 may include a motor microcomputer 224 to drive a motor226 that supplies torque to a drum or a tub. The washing machine 200 bmay include a heater that is operated by AC power.

In another example, when the home appliance is the air conditioner 200c, the driver 223 may include the motor microcomputer 224 to drive acompressor motor for an outdoor unit. The air conditioner 200 c mayinclude a heater that is operated by AC power.

The home appliance 200, such as the washing machine 200 b or the airconditioner 200 c, may include a motor driver similar to the compressordriver of the refrigerator as described above with reference to FIGS. 7to 9, and may further include a switching unit that is locateddownstream of the inverter 420 to supply AC power to the heater and themotor.

The home appliance 200 may supply AC power to at least one of the heateror the motor via switching operation of the switching unit.

In this case, the motor microcomputer 224 may calculate powerconsumption of the home appliance 200 while controlling the switchingunit.

That is, similar to FIG. 8, the motor microcomputer 224 may calculatepower consumption of the home appliance 200 based on output current iodetected by the output current detector E that is located between theinverter 420 and the switching unit 710.

While the power consumption calculation requires voltage as well ascurrent, estimation of output voltage based on the detected outputcurrent io is possible, and power consumption may be calculated usingthe estimated voltage.

In another example, the motor microcomputer 224 may calculate powerconsumption of the home appliance 200 based on the output current iodetected by the output current detector E and the output voltage vodetected by the output voltage detector F, both the output currentdetector E and the output voltage detector F being located between theinverter 420 and the switching unit 710.

In a further example, the motor microcomputer 224 may calculate powerconsumption of the home appliance 200 based on the input current isdetected by the input current detector A and the DC terminal voltage Vdcdetected by the DC terminal voltage detector B.

Then, the motor microcomputer 224 may transmit the calculated powerconsumption of the home appliance 200 to the main microcomputer 211.

As is apparent from the above description, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention, a switching unit may be provided between aninverter and a compressor included in a refrigerator and serve toselectively supply AC power to the compressor or a defrosting heater.This enables simplified driving of the defrosting heater using AC poweroutput from the inverter.

Meanwhile, a compressor microcomputer may be provided to calculate powerconsumption of the refrigerator in a simplified manner based on currentand voltage detected by detectors included in a compressor driver whilecontrolling the inverter.

A refrigerator and a home appliance according to the present inventionshould not be limited to configurations and methods of theabove-described embodiments, and all or some of the embodiments may beselectively combined with one another to achieve various alterations.

In addition, a method of operating a refrigerator according toembodiments of the present invention may be implemented as code that maybe written on a processor readable recording medium and thus read by aprocessor provided in the refrigerator. The processor readable recordingmedium may be any type of recording device in which data is stored in aprocessor readable manner. Examples of the processor readable recordingmedium may include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppydisc, and an optical data storage device. In addition, the processorreadable recording medium includes a carrier wave (e.g., datatransmission over the Internet). Also, the processor readable recordingmedium may be distributed over a plurality of computer systems connectedto a network so that processor readable code is written thereto andexecuted therefrom in a decentralized manner.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention asdisclosed in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A refrigerator comprising: a compressor; acapacitor to store direct current (DC) power; an inverter to convert theDC power into alternating current (AC) power and to output the AC powerfor driving of the compressor; a defrosting heater to operate using theAC power from the inverter; a switching unit connected between theinverter and the defrosting heater to supply the AC power from theinverter to at least one of the defrosting heater or the compressor; anda compressor microcomputer to control the inverter.
 2. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 1, wherein the compressor microcomputer controlsoperation of the switching unit.
 3. The refrigerator according to claim1, wherein an operation duration of the defrosting heater is spacedapart from an operation duration of the compressor.
 4. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 1, further comprising an output current detector todetect output current from the inverter, wherein the compressormicrocomputer calculates refrigerator power consumption based on theoutput current.
 5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, furthercomprising: an output current detector to detect output current from theinverter; and an output voltage detector to detect output voltage fromthe inverter, wherein the compressor microcomputer calculatesrefrigerator power consumption based on the output current and theoutput voltage.
 6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, furthercomprising: an input current detector to detect input current of ACpower inputted to the refrigerator; a converter to convert the input ACpower into DC power; and a DC terminal voltage detector to detectvoltage at two terminals of the capacitor, wherein the compressormicrocomputer calculates refrigerator power consumption based on thedetected input current and the detected DC terminal voltage.
 7. Therefrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the compressor microcomputercalculates the refrigerator power consumption based on the detectedinput current, the detected DC terminal voltage, and a power factorvalue.
 8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the compressormicrocomputer sets a greater power factor value when the compressor isoperated to supply cold air into a refrigerating compartment than apower factor value when the compressor is operated to supply cold airinto a freezing compartment, and to calculate the refrigerator powerconsumption based on the set power factor value.
 9. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 4, further comprising: a display; and a mainmicrocomputer to control the display, wherein the compressormicrocomputer transmits the calculated refrigerator power consumption tothe main microcomputer, and wherein the main microcomputer controlsdisplay of the received refrigerator power consumption on the display.10. A home appliance comprising: a motor; a capacitor to store DC power;an inverter to convert the DC power into AC power and to output the ACpower for driving of the motor; a heater to operate using the AC powerfrom the inverter; a switching unit connected between the inverter andthe heater to supply the AC power from the inverter to at least one ofthe heater or the motor; and a motor microcomputer to control theinverter.
 11. The home appliance according to claim 10, wherein themotor microcomputer controls operation of the switching unit.
 12. Thehome appliance according to claim 10, further comprising an outputcurrent detector to detect output current from the inverter, wherein themotor microcomputer calculates home appliance power consumption based onthe output current.
 13. The home appliance according to claim 10,further comprising: an output current detector to detect output currentfrom the inverter; and an output voltage detector to detect outputvoltage from the inverter, wherein the motor microcomputer calculateshome appliance power consumption based on the output current and theoutput voltage.
 14. The home appliance according to claim 10, furthercomprising: an input current detector to detect input current of ACpower input to the home appliance; a converter to convert the input ACpower into DC power; and a DC terminal voltage detector to detectvoltage at two terminals of the capacitor, wherein the motormicrocomputer calculates home appliance power consumption based on thedetected input current and the detected DC terminal voltage.
 15. Thehome appliance according to claim 14, wherein the motor microcomputercalculates the home appliance power consumption based on the detectedinput current, the detected DC terminal voltage, and a power factorvalue.
 16. The home appliance according to claim 12, further comprising:a display; and a main microcomputer to control the display, wherein themotor microcomputer transmits the calculated home appliance powerconsumption to the main microcomputer, and wherein the mainmicrocomputer controls display of the received home appliance powerconsumption on the display.
 17. The home appliance according to claim10, wherein when the home appliance is a washing machine, the motormicrocomputer drives the motor that supplies torque to a drum or a tub,and the motor microcomputer calculates power consumption of the heaterand the motor.
 18. The home appliance according to claim 10, whereinwhen the home appliance is an air conditioner, the motor microcomputerdrives a compressor motor for an outdoor unit, and the motormicrocomputer calculates power consumption of the heater and thecompressor motor.
 19. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein anoperation duration of the defrosting heater overlaps with an operationduration of the compressor.